Automatic shut-off valve



ot. 26, 11937. l.. F. CARTER 2,096,785

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF- VALVE Filed Feb. 11, 1936 jg. i. INVENTOR. l fan/,afa /f' (2f/Pfff? ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 26, 1937 iClaim.

This invention relates to an automatic gas control valve. It often happens that the gas' supply to water heaters, furnaces, household appliances, etc. is interrupted due to a breakage in the supply line, failure in the supply, accidental closure of a main valve, etc. This, of course, allows all burners on the line to become extinguished. Often the burnervalves are not closed and when the gas supply is resumed, the raw gas will flow from the burners with a. possibuity of asphyxie.-

tion, explosions, fires, etc. 4 The improved valve is more particularly designed for domestic service and it can be placed adjacent the house meter where it will control the entire gas supply or it may be placed in the individual supply lines to the individual burners.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple, positive, inexpensive valve which will automatically close oi the gas supply in case of interrupted service so that resumption of the gas supply will not result in gas escaping at the burners.

Other objects of the invention are to so constructthe valve that 'it will have relatively few v parts; will avoid the necessity for stulng boxes and packing; will be 'economical to manufacture and so vthat it can be leasily returned to the operative position when it is desired to again us'e the apparatus to which it is connected.

Other objects and advantages reside in the de tailed construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and emclency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

vention reference is had to theaccompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. ALike numerals refer to like parts in all views ofthe drawing and throughout the description. r

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a vertical longitudinal section through a gas supply valve in which the invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the locking lever which may be employed in the valve.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a valve housing IIIV provided with an intake opening il and a discharge opening I2. The intake and discharge openings are separated by means of a horizontal partition Ifas -is usual in globe valve constructions:A

The housing I0 is formed with an upwardly extending threaded valve stem collar I4 upon which is threaded acup member I5 forming a diai5 phragm chamber I6. The chamber is covered by In the followingA detailed description of the inmeans of a threaded cap I1 and a flexible diaphragm I8, of rubber, rubberized fabric, leather or similar flexible material, is clamped between the cap I1 and the cup member I5.

A valve stem I9 extends downwardly through the cap I1, the diaphragm I8, the cup I5, and

through the collar I4, terminating in a valve member 20 which closes a valve seat 2| vin the partition I3.

It is preferred to have the valve member 20. of the ball type, although it can have any desired shape. At the point where the valve stem I9 passes through' the gasket I8, two clamping disc nuts 22 and 23 are provided. These nuts are threaded upon thevvalve stem I9 andserve to rmly clamp the diaphragmat this point to form a gas tight joint.

To further seal the joint and to prevent movement of the nut discs 22 and'23,

lock nuts 23 are provided.

The upper extremity of the valve stem isformed with a finger button 25 which is preferably free to rotate on. the vvalve stem to prevent accidental rotation -of the latter.

Let us assume that gas is iiowing into the passage II, through the valve seat 2l, and from the passage I2 to a. gas appliance.

Gas from the passage I2 will pass through the `sleeve I4 to reach the bottom of the diaphragmfl., The pressure of this gas forces the latter upwardly to the broken line position, thus, holding the valve member 20 suspended above the valve seat 2|, as indi cated in broken line on the drawing.-

This position of the valve is retained as long as there is pressure in the supply pipe at II.

Should 'the pressure drop to a dangerous point or should it cease altogether, there will not be suilicient pressure to hold the diaphragm in its supported position andthe weight of the valve member 20 will cause it to drop and close the seat 2|. The weight of the valve member and the diameter of the seat are so proportioned that should the pressure again be resumed in the passage II, it will not be sufiicient to lift the valve 20 from its seat. It will be noted that at this time the gas has much less area to work against than when the diaphragm I8 is in operation. There'- fore gas'canv not iiow to the appliance until the valve stem is manually raised by the attendant.

its operating position.

VThis will again allow pressure toenter below the diaphram and cause the Valve to again resume t`is intended that the weight of the valve 20 will be suilicient under ordinary conditions to maintain it on its seat.

For situations where anunusually high pressur/e is'encountered a locking lever 21 actuated lever may swing downward but cannot swing up-I ward due to an overlapping extremity 32.

As the valve moves to the closed. position, the upper ange 30 strikes the lever 21 so as to swing the latter to the position of Fig. 1. When in the latter position, the spring 28 is below the hinge pin so that the tension of the spring pulls downward to hold the valve 20 against its seat. When the valve is pulled open, the lower ange 29 strikes lthe lever and the spring 28 snaps the lever to the position of Fig. 2 where it is out of engagement with both flanges.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent An automatic gas control valve comprising: a valve housing; a horizontal partition in said valve housing; a discharge passage above said partition; an intake passage below said partition; a port through said partition; a ball closing said port and resting on said partition; a threaded shaft secured to and extending upwardly from said ball; a diaphragm closing the top of said discharge passage; said threaded shaft passing through said diaphragm and being sealed thereto; a cap covering said diaphragm and clamping the latter in place, said shaft extending through and projecting above said cap. said diaphragm being suciently exible so that the weight of said ball will force it against said seat when there is no pressure in said discharge passage; and a spring actuated latch for holding said ball against said seat, said latch being normally out of contact with said ball and shaft; and means for bringing said latch into active position when said ball contacts said seat.

LEONARD F. CARTER. 

